Katsuki stepped out of the shower with a frustrated grunt, his body dripping water down into the small bathroom carpet. He forcefully grabbed his towel from the waiting rack and began to run it through his soggy hair while flicking the switch to turn on the overhead fan. A dull roaring noise came from within the ceiling, and slowly but surely, the bathroom mirror began to defog. Just as he brought the towel down and around to begin drying off his upper body, his phone buzzed to life, clattering angrily against the granite countertop. Katsuki slung his towel up and over his shoulder while letting out an annoyed grunt and swiped the device from the surface before opening his messages.
Deku
1:45pm
Did you get your letter?
Katsuki momentarily stopped breathing before tapping upon Izuku's name and initiating a call. He brought the device up to his ear and narrowed his eyes, barely able to see his reflection through the clouded mirror. The moment the call connected, Katsuki began to speak, his voice sharp and irritated.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Katsuki spat. "Letters are supposed to come out next week. It's only the 12th."
"I know," Izuku answered. Something in the boy's voice sounded horrified and uncertain, as though he had gotten unexpected and unpleasant news. "But… mine's here. It's an official U.A. letter, but it's… it's from All Might, a-and it's…"
"It's what?" Katsuki demanded. "Did you get rejected or something? Stop being so cryptic."
"No, I…" Izuku began. "…a-actually, I… Kacchan, I don't know. I don't know what this means."
"Then read the fucking letter to me," Katsuki said with an annoyed snort as he leaned back into the counter, his shoulders tense. "I'll tell you what it means."
There was an uncomfortable pause, before Izuku cleared his throat and began to speak again.
"…I think… I think you should go and check the mail. It seems like you've got the same letter. I think a lot of us did."
Katsuki lifted a hand and nervously began to rub at the side of his neck, his heart pounding and adrenaline causing his chest to feel numb.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Just go check," Izuku insisted. "And maybe… maybe come over, if you can. I don't know what to make of this, but I think we need a plan."
Katsuki's mind blanked as he tried to think of what to say. His throat felt dry, and his entire body was beginning to feel numb.
"…I'll call you back," Katsuki said quickly before disconnecting the call. Without a second thought, he set his phone down and slipped his towel off his shoulder. Katsuki wrapped it around himself like a makeshift skirt and opened the bathroom door, before leaning out of the frame toward the staircase. "Mom!"
"Yeah!?" Mitsuki called back, seemingly from down in the kitchen.
Katsuki blinked in surprise- he had been expecting no answer, and was unsure how he felt about receiving one.
"Can you… go get the mail?" Katsuki asked, suddenly feeling incredibly stupid. "U.A. letters are going out! Deku got his!"
"Did he get in?" his mother called back, causing Katsuki to run a hand through his sodden hair in frustration.
"I don't know!" he admitted as he scratched at his scalp. "He's being an asshole about it!"
"Figures," Mitsuki answered. "I'll be right back!"
Katsuki leaned back into the bathroom, closed the door, and undid his towel before hurriedly beginning to dry himself off. He made quick work of drying his chest, arms, and lower body, but paused before bringing the towel around to his back. Katsuki gritted his teeth and turned away from the bathroom mirror before looking over his shoulder and taking in his reflection.
There in the center of his back, running from his left shoulder to just above the right side of his rear was a large, angry raised scar almost six inches wide at the center. The swelling had gone down slightly, but the flesh was still somewhat tender. Seeing the lash mark in its inflamed state after a hot shower caused Katsuki's frustrations to intensify, and he closed his eyes as he brought his towel around to begin drying himself. Slowly and carefully, he ran the cloth back and forth across his back, taking great care not to agitate the wound any further. Despite his efforts, it still hurt quite a bit and caused him to hiss in pain.
After he was dry, Katsuki re-wrapped his towel skirt and hurried to his bedroom, where he donned a pair of silver basketball shorts and a sleeveless black top. He tossed the towel into the waiting hamper before moving into the hallway and making his way down the stairs at a frantic pace. Just as he entered the kitchen, Mitsuki walked back inside, flipping through a handful of envelopes.
"It's here…" Mitsuki offered while holding out a simple white envelope.
Katsuki accepted the parcel and simply stared, validating the address and text reading United Advocates University. Somehow, his breathing slowed and his nervous tension turned to a sinking sense of dread that weighed his entire body down. A momentary paralysis prevented him from even beginning to raise his hand to open the envelope, and he swallowed hard to stall for time.
"…hey."
Katsuki looked up at his mother, who had her arms folded across her chest as she stood leaning back into the countertop.
"You made it in. You know you made it in. You've busted your ass for so long and done crazy shit that other would-be heroes your age can't even dream of pulling off th-"
"Stop," Katsuki interrupted while glaring daggers at Mitsuki. She did indeed stop, looking strangely concerned. "Based on what Deku said… that might not be true. I trusted him during the entrance exam, and went with his idea to work outside the established rules. I took control, but I followed him, and this Kan girl, too."
"Sometimes, following other peoples' leads isn't so bad," Mitsuki offered.
"…you say that now, after telling me to take the wheel in every situation for my entire life up to this point…" Katsuki muttered while tearing open the top of the envelope. "It's from All Might, instead of the dean. Just like Deku said…"
"Well? What does it say?" Mitsuki asked, her posture just as tense as Katsuki's.
Katsuki took a deep breath and began to read aloud as he straightened the letter in his hands.
"Mr. Katsuki Bakugo-
While this likely is not the letter you were hoping to receive, nor the time you were expecting to receive it, I have been instructed to contact you personally, outside of the typical admissions letter mailing window for U.A. University. Your written exam score was an incredibly impressive 94%, while the average of all applicants was only at 82%. Congratulations on your commitment to the study of hero law and tactics- you've clearly paid attention in your high school hero preparatory coursework! That, however, is not the reason for this letter and method of early communication.
It should be no surprise that the professors observing your performance in the physical entrance exam found your choice of tactics incredibly interesting and unconventional. All applicants who participated in the takedown of the Zero-Point Villain are receiving similar letters, but yours is somewhat unique. As the ringleader of the attack on the Zero-Point Villain, you made a decision to not only gamble with your future at U.A. based upon your instincts, but with the futures of several other applicants by spurring them into action, as well.
Several professors on the admissions council would like to meet with you, as well as the other students who participated in the takedown of the Zero-Point Villain on the 15th at 7:00pm, in conference room 204-B. The decision to accept or reject your application is currently in contention… though between you and me, I'm on your side, young man. Keep that between us. I'd also like to speak to you and Midoriya after the other students clear out, regardless of the results. I owe you at least that much.
-Toshinori Yagi"
"…wow," Mitsuki said immediately. "He almost managed to keep that letter professional, until right at the end, there…"
"…yeah…" Katsuki agreed, his voice distant. "That's… the 15th is Friday. I… think I need to go and call Izuku…"
"So… I'm not supposed to be remembering how to get to wherever we're going, right?" Mirio asked sheepishly as he continued to follow Overhaul down a seemingly endless maze of hallways lit by torches. The two men had long since disappeared into the literal underground, where the floors of polished marble and plush carpeting had given way to natural stone. "Because… I'm totally lost."
"Good," Overhaul replied sarcastically as he kept his eyes upon the path ahead. "You're not supposed to be able to find Arowana, until he wants to be found. We're almost to his chambers… or at least, the room he wants to speak to you in, this time…"
"Keeping mobile, huh?" Mirio asked. "Pretty smart of him. After all, I'm not exactly the most trustworthy person right now."
Overhaul made a dismissive noise and transitioned his hands into his pockets.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. To be completely honest with you, I'm not sure you're capable of lying. You have the kind of face that's unused to disappointment. Hardship. Any sort of struggle, until recently. Rich parents, if I had to guess? You grew up not wanting for anything? The greatest tragedy in your life up to this point has maybe been a messy breakup in high school?"
Mirio's good cheer faded rather quickly, and for a moment, he couldn't help but feel equal parts guilty and curious about Overhaul's circumstances.
"…that's… a little scarily accurate, yeah," Mirio admitted. "I take it you've seen a lot of people like me?"
"Seen many. Conversed with some. Killed a few," Overhaul answered as he stopped before a door and turned around. "This is your stop. Be respectful, be direct, and be willing. If he sees something in you other than a university student who made a grave mistake, I'll be waiting for you just down the hall."
Mirio's eyes widened as he looked between the door and Overhaul. Despite all of his training to maintain his composure in stressful situations, he couldn't help but begin to feel the icy grip of panic around his chest.
"You're not coming in…?"
"I wasn't invited," Overhaul explained with a shrug. "And it isn't my place to question the boss. I'm just the doorman, really- another thug entrusted with mid-level assignments, and that's when the boss is in a generous mood. I'm just another masked villain- the kind you would roll over to get to the real villain, on any other day."
Mirio's face contorted into a frown, and he reached out to place a hand upon Overhaul's shoulder. The masked man recoiled slightly in surprise, but didn't resist the gesture.
"Hey- from here on, I'm lower ranked than you, and I'm not about to roll over anyone here. Even if you're a little guarded, you seem like a… you seem like the kind of guy I'd like to get to know more. The kind of person I'd be comfortable having my back. Even if we don't agree on some stuff, I like you, Overhaul. I want to keep this going."
It wasn't long before Overhaul brushed Mirio's hand from his shoulder and shook his head while beginning to walk away. Mirio frowned after the other man, but made no effort to pursue him.
"…get inside. We'll talk later."
"…see ya!" Mirio called while offering a wave.
Overhaul didn't look back to see it.
Mirio turned and took in a deep breath, shaking out his hands as he stared at the double doors before him. The painted wood was an almost laughably stereotypical design of a pair of golden dragons, one on each panel facing each other, entwined around columns of jade. Their eyes were socketed with rubies, and the rest of the door was painted a shade of vermillion to match the glittering gemstones. Mirio grabbed the gold ringed handle upon the right panel and pulled it open before stepping into the room proper.
Oddly enough, the room was a rather simple bedchamber, though clearly not Arowana's own. The room looked more akin to that of a teenage girl's, given the band posters, colorful decorations, and stuffed animals sitting atop the sky-blue pillows and pink comforter. A set of women's jeans and a tube top were laid out atop a chair in the corner, and a simple desk with a computer setup and several textbooks were occupying the opposite side of the room. In the center of the room at the foot of the bed, an elderly man knelt before a low tea table vacant of the expected cups.
Despite his age, Arowana exuded an intimidating aura unlike any Mirio had ever felt before. With a simple glance upward of the man's steel blue eyes, Mirio found himself totally frozen, feeling very much like a prey animal that had been sighted by a circling eagle. Even while kneeling, Mirio could tell that Arowana was tall, and that his loose white silken robe hid wiry muscle beneath it. The man's long silver hair was pulled back into a simple bun with errant strands flowing below it and down to his upper back. His face was chiseled and worn with age, and his hands were knobby and wrinkled. A scraggly silver goatee hung several inches below the bottom of his chin, the hairs remaining almost impossibly still as he spoke calmly.
"Come," the man instructed in an authoritative voice far louder, richer, and clearer than Mirio was expecting.
Had Mirio been blindfolded, he would have assumed Arowana to be a bulky bouncer at a nightclub rather than a wizened old man. As he knelt before the leader of the Shie Hassaikai and spotted the bladeless hilt of a katana resting next to him upon the tatami mat, Mirio decided that he would rather be dealing with a bouncer than whatever Arowana was hiding.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Mirio began as he kneeled and rested his hands upon his thighs. "Or… 'Boss'? I'm here t-…"
Mirio trailed off as Arowana raised a hand for silence. The old man held it perfectly still before slowly bringing it down to his lap and giving Mirio an unblinking stare.
"Mirio Togata, age 20, third year student at U.A. University. Former protégé of Sir Nighteye, before being let go for reasons unknown to the public," Arowana began. "One of the so-called Big Three. Quirk of 'Permeation'- the ability to phase through matter at will. Truly, an up-and-coming hero in the making who fell from grace, who now turns to one of the oldest crime families in Japan for new purpose. Curious. Curious, and unlikely. If you are here to determine what it is that the Shie Hassaikai are doing in light of the recent rise in villain activity and the resurgence of the Nue family committing petty crime, then you are wasting your time, Togata. Here, we value family bonds, both of blood, and otherwise. Those who accept such a covenant and commit themselves to our cause are duly rewarded. Those who violate that pact are disposed of, in a manner fitting of their transgressions. We are nothing more than a band of brothers and sisters looking to survive in a society that sees no place for us. That is all."
Mirio paused, reviewing the man's words in his mind before offering his elder a slow nod.
"…then it sounds like I've come to the right place."
Arowana's lip upturned, and he let out a soft chuckle.
"Perhaps. Trust is hard won, and easily lost. I'm sure you're familiar with the sentiment."
"And I know what I'm up against to win that trust," Mirio said confidently. "What can I do for you to get started?"
"Straight to the point. Good," Arowana praised. "It will be quite some time before I feel comfortable sending you out on any assignments with the others, but for now… your access to U.A. will prove invaluable. Anything interesting and potentially outside the realm of what the school would like the public to know about All Might that you can provide us would go a long way toward establishing trust."
"All Might?" Mirio asked while feigning surprise. "Why would…" he began, before stopping himself and stooping into a low bow. "…I'll see what I can find."
"You learn quickly," Arowana praised. "You needn't know why, only what you must do. With a Quirk like yours, it shouldn't be difficult to find some rudimentary information about the man, at the very least. Have you been introduced to anyone else within our family, other than Overhaul?"
Mirio nodded in response.
"Yes, Sir. Dreamgirl and Dabi."
Arowana paused, his face unreadable as he ran a thumb and forefinger along his beard.
"…interesting. Continue to associate with your brothers and sisters here and learn their reasons for joining us. Perhaps they will help you with finding the purpose you seek… or determining if that purpose lies with us at all."
"…I have to ask," Mirio said softly. "What if… what if I find that it doesn't, in the end?"
Arowana rose to stand, and Mirio followed the motion. The older man was indeed taller by more than a head, and even more intimidating at his full height.
"That will depend entirely upon you," Arowana replied. "Should you prove useful in your time here and part on amicable terms… then perhaps you can remain an ally. There are many outside of the family that we conduct business with, who choose to walk a separate path. There are others whose paths intersect with ours in ways that are unacceptable… and as our path grows wider, their numbers will increase. Where your own falls is largely up to you. I think you'll find that the Shie Hassaikai are not unreasonable people, Togata. We simply desire a sense of togetherness. Equality. Safety. Opportunity for all, regardless of their circumstances of birth."
"Well… I certainly can't argue against any of that," Mirio offered with a smile.
Arowana didn't return it.
"Indeed. Be on your way, and keep your personal principles at heart… even if they don't align with those around you."
Mirio sank into a respectful bow before heading to the door and through it to return to the hallway. Arowana stared for a moment, before putting a hand out to the side. A swirl of smoke manifested beneath the bladeless hilt upon the floor and brought it up into his hand, as though the object had been possessed.
"…Toru."
Suddenly, the jeans and tube top rose from within the chair at the corner of the room, standing at attention as a feminine voice spoke in response.
"Grandfather?"
"Keep an eye on him at U.A. for me. I hope he isn't foolish enough to try to lie to us…"
Author's Note:
'How could Hagakure be significant enough to be a recommendation student and play a large role in this story?'
The fun is just beginning.
-RD